Control for spinning frame



March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN ETAL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME Original Filed April 1, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-l March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN ETAL 7 CONTROL; FOR SPINNING FRAME Original Filed April 1, 1952 K 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS 1-? LEWELLEN 4 y DARCY E. LEWELLEN my C ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D. LEWELLEN ET AL CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME 8 Shets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 1, 1952 INVENTORS EMMONS E LE WELLEN DARCY E. LEWELLEN C r c ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN EIAL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME Original Filed April 1, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet} FIG-I3 INVENTOR.

EMMONS E LEWELLEN DARCY E. LEWELLE AT TORNEYS March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN EI'AL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME Original Filed April 1, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS EMMONS F LEWELLEN DARGY E. LEWELLEN ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN ETAL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME Original Filed April 1, 1952 k 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS EMMONS F. LEWELLEN DARCY E. LEWELLEN ATTORNEYS FIG-IO March 19, 1957 LEWELLEN ETAL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed April 1, 1952 INVENTORS EMMONS F LEWELLEN DAROY E. LEWELLEN BYCI'V z ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D. E. LEWELLEN ETAL 2,785,527

CONTROL FOR SPINNING FRAME} 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed April 1, 1952 6 2 558 Owwmm M40255 7 TH 8TH HOUR 3RD 4TH 5TH DOIFING TIME IST FRONT ROLLS DRAFT LLS HANK ROVI NG GUIDE BALLOON 0F YARN BOBBIN OWE mwmO 24 0 SPINDLE DRIVE FIG-l6 JNVENTORS EMMONS F. LEWELLEN BY DARCY E LE W ELLEN ATTORNEYS lowing specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view ofa spinning frame showing the, drive motor therefor, the variable speed transmission through which the motor drives the Spinning frame, and the control arrangement of the present invention operably associated with the variable speed drive;

Figure 2 is a view looking in from the left side of Figure 1 showing still other details in connection with the construction of the machine;

Figure 3 is a plan view looking down on top of Figure 2 showing the arrangement of the motor, variable speed drive, and control arrangement;

Figure 4 is a view of the drive motor and variable speed transmission connected therewith looking in at the right side of these elements in Figure 1 and drawn at a scale greater than that employed for Figures 1, 2, and 3;

Figure 5 is a view looking in from the right side of Figure 4 and drawn at about the same scale showing the mechanism by which the variable speed transmission -is adjusted as to its speed ratio;

Figure 6 is a sectional view generally indicated by line 6-6 on Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view indicated byline 77 on Figure 5 showing the driven pulley of the variable speed transmission;

Figure 8 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 on Figure 2 showing the control arrangement by means of which the variable speed transmission is adjusted;

Figure 9 is a sectional view indicated by line 99 on Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view indicated by line 1010 on Figure 8; i

Figure 11 is a sectional view indicated by line 11-11 on Figure 8 but drawn at somewhat larger scale;

Figure 12 is a front elevational view of that portion of the control arrangement illustrated in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a sectional view indicated by line 13-13 on Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a sectional view indicated by line 14-14 on Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric control circuit forming a part of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the path of the yarn from the draft rolls of the drafting frame to the bobbin in the spinning frame;

Figure 17 is a graph showing different manner of varying the bobbin speed for different yarns; and

Figure 18 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing one manner in which the rate of change of speed of the transmission can be varied.

In general, the present invention is practiced by arranging between a drive motor and the input drive shaft for a spinning frame and infinitely variable transmission. The transmission is made adjustable manually so that it can be set at any predetermined point within the limits of its adjustment.

According to the present invention, automatic means are also connected with the variable speed transmission for effecting the adjustment thereof, and this automatic means is operable to adjust the setting of the variable speed transmission gradually from a predetermined low limit to a predetermined upper limit.

Manual means are provided for disconnecting the automatic control system when it is desired to make an initial adjustment of the transmission manually. The control system can also be adjusted to limit the speed increase of the variable speed transmission to a predetermined maximum amount. Thereafter, the control system is connected with the variable speed transmission and will operate to gradually increase the speed setting thereof to a predetermined point and then halt further adjustment of the speed setting.

According to this invention, the rate of'speed adjustment can be constant or variable, depending upon the particular yarn being treated.

When the spinning frame is again started up fora new run, the resetting of the variable speed transmission back to its original starting point will also serve to reset the control system so that once the control system is adjusted for any given type of yarn it will operate on repetitive runs of the spinning frame to exercise exactly the same control every time.

Referring now to the drawings somewhat more in de- 'tail, reference to Figures 1 through 3 will reveal the general arrangementof the spinning frame, drive motor, variable speed transmission and control system of the present invention. In these views the spinning frame is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, and

extending from the spinning frame is the input drive shaft 12 therefor. Mounted on drive shaft 12 is the expansible pulley or sheave 14 over which passes the transmission belt 16. The transmission belt 16, in turn, passes over the expansible pulley or sheave 18 that is mounted on the drive shaft of the drive motor 20.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the setting of the infinitely variable speed transmission which consists of the adjustable sheaves 14 and 18 and their interconnecting transmission belt 16 is accomplished by rotation ofv a threaded member which carries at one end a sprocket 22 over which passes "a chain 24 that also passes over a sprocket 26 on a shaft 28 extending out the back wall of a housing 30 which encloses the control system of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, it will be noted that the drive pulley mounted on the shaft of motor 20 consists of the inwardly facing conical disks 32 and 34, with disk 34 having an elongated hub 35 on which disk 32 is slidably keyed. Disk 34 is rigidly mounted on the drive shaft of the motor to be driven thereby, whereas disk 32 is movable axially along the hub 35 in order to change the effective diameter of the pulley.

A thrust type ball bearing 36 is mounted on the hub of disk 32 and is retained within a housing 37 to which is pivotally connected a pair of links 38 that are pivoted at their other ends to an intermediate point on an adjusting lever or yoke 39 that has its lower end pivoted at 40 on a stationary base plate and which has its other end pivoted at 41 to links 42 extending to and pivoted to an adjustment block 43. The adjustment block is threadedly mounted on adjusting screw 44 that has its opposite ends rotatably journaled in the stationary bracket 45. The one end of adjustment screw 44 carries the sprocket 22 previously referred to and over which passes chain 24.

The adjustable sheave or pulley mounted on the input shaft 12 of the spinning frame comprises a first inwardly facing conical disk element 46 having a hub 47 keyed to'shaft 12 and locked in place on the said shaft, as by the set screws 48. Slidably mounted on the hub 47 is a second inwardly facing conical disk member 49 also having a hub 50, and which hub isslidably keyed to hub 47 of disk 46 so thatthe said disks rotate together.

At the extreme end of hub 47 there is a collar 51 retained in place by a snap ring 52, and between which collanand the outer face of disk49 there bears a corn- PI- S8 ns T mpressi pf ns m y dvantageous ly be enclosed withinflthe two-part telescopic housing 54. Thedescribed arrangement provides for relative axial movement between the disks 46 and 49 when there is an adjustment of the speed of the variable,

transmission.

Turning now to the control system, reference to Figures 8 through 12 will revealthat the sprocket 26 that is; connected by chain24 with sprocket 22 is mounted on 60' is a worm wheel 62. Also, slidably keyed on shaft 28,

isa clutch member 64 which is urgedby a compression spring66 toward a position of engagement with a corresponding clutch portion on worm wheel 62, so that, normally, the worm wheelis drivingly'connected with shaft 28. However, a shifter form 65 is associated with clutch member 64 and isadapted for movement by a manually operable shift rod 67 to eifectdisengagement of worm wheel 62 from shaft 28 when; desired.

Extending transversely inhousing 30 and supported by hearing brackets 68 extending out from the back wall or the housing is a shaft 70 that has thereon a worm 72 continuously meshing with worm wheel 62. At its end, shaft 70has mounted thereon a spur gear 74 which meshes with a pinion 76 on a shaft 78 extending through a bracket 80.

At its opposite. end shaft 78 has mounted thereon gear 81Qwhich mesheswitha gear 82 on a shaft 84 journalcd in..bracket 80 and on which shaft there is also a gear 86 that meshes with a gear 88 on a shaft 90, said shaft 90 also being journaled in bracket 80 and extending completely therethrough to,be connectedlby a coupling 92 with the reduced speed output shaft of the geared head motor 94.

Aswill best be seen in Figure 10, the gears 88, 86, 82, and 81 are positioned immediately inside one side wall of the housing, and this side wall of the housing includes the removable door 95 which can be removed for the ,purpose of gaining access to the said gears. These gears are change. gears and sets may be provided so that one set of gears can be removed from the shafts 90, 84, and 78, and another set placed thereon, and in this manner effect a change in the driving ratio between motor 94 and pinion 76 that meshes with gear 74.

:Returning to Figures 8 and 9, it will be seen that shaft 28 also has thereon a small gear-96 that is in mesh with a larger gear 98 mounted on a shaft so as to turn with a small gear, 100 that meshes with the relatively large gear 102. Turning n ow to Figures 11 and 12, it will be seen that gear 102 is mounted on a shaft 106-that is rotatable in sleeve 104. Shaft 106 extends out through the front wall of the housing 30. At its end opposite gear 102, shaft 1 06 has keyed thereto a cam 108. Adjacent'the cam 108 thereis rotatably mounted on shaft 106 a gear 110 having a hub 112 on which is carried a disk of insulating material 114.

-Gear 110 has bracket means secured thereto that provide supportqfor alimit switch LS1 which has leads extending therefrom and through the gear to slip rings mountedyon disk 114 and which are engaged by brushes. Gear 110 meshes with a gear116 keyed to a shaft 118 that extends through the front wall of the housing to and 12 tendi g from limit i ch. LS ar M commuted with the slip rings 1 26 and 128 respectively,and bearthe brushes 130, and 132, respectively. In th s, manner, electrical connections are maintained with, the limit switch in all angular, positions, or adjustment thereof.

Turning now to Figure 14, it will be seenthat the earn 108 that is keyed to shaft 106 comprises anarcuate portion 134 and a flat portion 136 so that limit, switch LS1 is in one condition when the fiat portion of the pain is adjacent the actuating -roller,138 of the switch and in another condition when the said roller is engaged by t he end of the flat portion at the beginning of, the circumferential part 134 of the can.

.Fig r 1 lso sho a br kina a r n m soc at d with gear. 1 16and. which comprises a plate 140 pivotal ly mounted on a pin 142 which may "extend from the sup porting bracket. for motor 94 andwhichplate is s lotted at 144m embrace the sleeveinwhi ch shaft 118 is journaled. Mounted on'plate140 and on the opposite of gear 116 therefrom is a se'cond plate146 with the plates being urged toward each other by the springs 148 which will be seen in Figure 11. 'Thisarra ngement providesa frictional drag on gear116, so thatfit will remain in adjusted positions.

Shaft 106 carries on its outer end the pointer 150 and pointer 150 moves over a dial. 152 mounted on the wall ofthe housing 30. This dial is calibrated to indicate spinning machine spindlespeeds. The wall of thehousing also carries a bushing 154, and loosely mounted on bushing 154 is a dial 156having a pointer158'. Pointer 158 "may be located at any point over dial 152 andis held in place by, a. GlQmPlGO and, clamp out 162. Inasmuch a sh ft 10 i i always d ivins y. n age ith shaft 28. Impos p n r 50 ill a ay ind cat the spindle speed.

Knob. 120 has a pointer which moveso ver a dial 172. Dial 172 is rotatably mounted onbushing .174 and is adapted for being. locked in place by the clamp,176. Dial 172 isicalibrated in equally spaced divisions, and the purpose of this calibration will become more apparent hereinafter. Reference now to Figure 15 will reveal that the threephase power lines L1, L2, and L3 are led through a'starting switch 200 to wires which supply themain drive motor 20. From the motor side of switch 200, wires,201,,202, and 203 lead to the control system, as well as connections represented by wires 204, 205, whichlead to the line side of switch 200.

Wire 205 leads to contact a on a relay generally indicated by reference numeral 206; wire 201 leads to contact b of the relay; and wire 202 leads to contact 0 of the relay.

' Associated with contact a is a contact d of the relay that is connected with one side ofthe operating coil207 of relay 206. Associated with contact b is a contact 2, and associated with contact 1; is a contact Another pair of contacts are indicated at g and h. When coil 207 is energized, contacts a and d, b and, e, and c and j are closed bytheir respectiveblades, while contacts g and h are open.

Wire 204 is connected with one side of a normally closed stop switch 208, the other side of which is connected with one terminal of the normally closed limit switch LS2, the other side of switch LS2 being connected by a wire 209 with one of the brushes 130, 132, and which, in turn, is connected with one side of limit switch LS1. The other side of limit switch LS1 leads through the other of the brushes 130, 132 to a point midway between the signal lamps 2 10 and 212.

Limit switch LS2, as will be seen in Figure 6, is mounted in a housing 214 carried by bracket '45 and is adapted for actuation by cams 216 on a rod 218.,that is directly connected with block 43, as by means of the bracket 219.

It will be noted that the midpoint .betweenthesignal lamps 2 .0 d'z lis a s n'nect d th side :of

. 7 7 operating coil 207 oppositethe connection of the said coil with contact d of the relay. The other side of sig nal light 210 from the said center connection is connected with the said contact d, whereby signal light 210 will be illuminated whenever relay coil 207 is energized.

The side of signal lamp 212 opposite the above-menfioned center connection is connected with contact g.

Motor 94 has its one terminal connected with contact e of the relay, a second terminal connected with contact f of the relay, and its third terminal connected directly with wire 203.

The remaining connections in the control circuit consist of a wire leading from contact at to one side of a normally open start switch 220, the other side of which is connected with both of the contacts a and h of the relay.

It will be noted that opening and closing of switch 200 will have no effect on the energization of operating coil 207, but that the entire control of this operating coil is accomplished by start switch 208, stop switch 220, and limit switches LS1 and LS2. Because of this, the main drive motor can be stopped at any time without affecting the setting of the control system.

Operation Before starting the control, gears 81, 82, 86, and 88 are placed on their respective shafts, the gears having the proper number of teeth to turn shaft 28 at the rate of speed which has been determined as desired. The length of time motor 94 operates is determined by the setting of the switch LS1 in relation to the cam 108. This cam revolves clockwise as viewed in Figure 12, but is not turning during the time the position of the switch is being set. Since this cam turns clockwise, the point of the cam indicated at 222 in Figure 14 is the point which engages and moves the roller 138 to disengage the contacts in switch LS1.

In setting up, the knob 120 is turned clockwise which, through the gears 116 and 110, turns the switch LS1 anticlockwise and moves the roller 138 toward the cam point 222 and disengages the contacts in switch LS1. At the instant these points are disengaged, the set light 212 is extinguished. Dial 172 is then set with the zero division under the pointer 170, and this dial locked in position by tightening the clamp 176, which holds the dial in place.

The knob 120 is then turned anticlockwise to a predetermined calibration on dial 172, which turns gears 116 and 110 to move switch LS1 clockwise, moving the roller 138 thereof away from the cam point 222 and over the'flattened portion 136 of the cam. The brake plates 140 and 146 hold gears 116 and 110 in this position until they are again moved by turning knob 120.

After the machine is in operation and the various parts of the machine operating properly, the start button 220 is closed, starting the control motor 94 which, through its gear train, drives shaft 28. Also, shaft 28 drives shaft 106, which gradually turns the cam so that after a predetermined time interval, the point 222 of the cam engages the roller 138, disengaging the contacts in switch LS1 and stopping the control motor.

By using gears at 81, 82, 86, and 88 having different numbers of teeth, the speed of shaft 28 can be adjusted to any desired speed, since motor 94 runs at a constant speed. The speed of shaft 28 determines the speed at which shifting screw 44 will turn, and the rate at which the speed of shaft 12 is changed and the positioning of switch L'Sl in the manner just described determines the length of time this speed changing movement remains effective.

In operation, driving shaft 12 of the spinning frame is started through a wide range of speeds: for instance, this shaft sometimesmay be started at speeds such as 80011. P. M., 940 r. M., 1085 R. P. M., on up to 1375 R. P. M., depending upon the size and grade of spindle is running 6000 R. P. M.

varying the spindle speed of a spinning frame.

8 yarn being made by the spinning frame, and, since this starting speed is accomplished by positioning the pulley 18 by turning through the shifting screw 44 and-chain drive to shaft 28, the speed of shaft 12 will always be in relation to the position of shaft 28. The rotative position of cam 108 may be at any point around the axis of shaft 106, and, since the length of time the controls will run to make a given speed change in shaft 12 is determined by the distance roller 138 is set from the cam point 222, it is necessary that switch LS1 also be positionable at any point around the axis of shaft 106. By the arrangement described, any predetermined rate of speed change may be selected and also any predeterminedtime duration in which this speed changing will be maintained.

Closing of the start button also formsa circuit from wire 204, through stop switch 208, switch LS2, run light 210, and back to wire 205, so that the run light is lighted during the time the motor 94 is running.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the pointer 150 carried by shaft 106 is always at a definite position on the dial 152 for a given spindle speed. For instance, this pointer will always be at the calibration of 6000 when the In textile mills there may be anywhere from fifty to five hundred spinning frames, and sometimes several hundred spinning frames in the same room. As far as possible, the spinning frames are set up for a given size yarn, and the practice is to run the frames on this size yarn as long as possible. That is, on a given frame, it is not considered good practice to be continually changing from one size yarn to another.

However, different groups of frames in the same room may be making a wide variety of yarns, and, therefore, have the spindles running at a wide variety of speeds. In the use of the present invention, when anygiven run is completed, and before stopping the power motor, the handwheel 61 is turned anticlockwise to reset this spinning frame to the proper starting speed. If no changes have been made, and this frame previously started at 6000 R. P. M. spindle speed, then it would again be started at 6000 R. P. M. spindle speed, but, since the spinning frames 'in a given room may be running at different speeds, the

'dial156 would be turned until the pointer 158 thereof was directly in line with the pointer and the clamp for clamping dial 156 would be tightened so that the pointer 158 would remain in a fixed position in relation to dial 152.

Pointer 150, however, during the spinning operation would gradually turn clockwise, and be standing over a calibration of 6600, if the speed increase was, for example,

to be ten percent. Thus, the operator need not attempt to record or remember the previous starting speed setting, since with this device he needs only to turn the handwheel 61 anticlockwise to a speed somewhat below the starting speed, then come -up to the previous starting speed by turning the handwheel until pointer 150 is direct 1y over pointer 158.

.It will be understood that it is always necessary to disengage clutch Worm Wheel 62 from shaft 28 before the handwheel and shaft 28 can be turned.

The graph in Figure 17 shows a number of different conditions which might be encountered in connection with It will be noted that centaln of the lines on the graph indicate ,a constant rate of speed change between the lowest and highest spindle speeds, whereas others of the lines indicate a variation in the rate of changing the spindle speed.

For effecting a variable rate of change, the arrangement illustrated in Figure 18 may be employed. In this figure the gear 86 is driven at constant speed by the adjusting motor by being connected thereto by gear 88, shaft 90, and coupling 92. Shaft 84 on which gear 86 is mounted is threaded and mounts a nut 304 which is connected to a fastener rod 303 that engages belt 302 running on the conical pulleys 300 and 301. Conical pulley 301 is mounted on shaft 78 to which is connected gear 76 that meshes with gear 7 4.

This arrangement will provide for a continuously varying change in the rate at which the speed of the transmission is adjusted, but it will be apparent that by properly shaping the pulleys 300 and 301, any desirable rate changing characteristics could be obtained.

It will also be noted in the graphs of Figure 17 that certain conditions thereof only initiate the changing of the spindle speed after the spinning frame has been in operation a predetermined time. This can readily be accomplished by modifying the circuit, as indicated in Figure 15, wherein the start switch 220 is by-passed by a timer plate T adapted for being closed after the timer motor M has operated for a predetermined length of time. Timer motor M is connected between power line L3 and contact g of relay 206. This arrangement provides that when the motor 20 is started, motor M will be energized, and after a predetermined length of time, plate T will be closed, thereby energizing relay coil 207, whereupon the plate associated with contacts g and h will open, thus de-energizing the said motor, and at which time the timer will reset so as to be ready when a new run is commenced on the spinning frame.

By this means, the changing of the spindle speed can be initiated at any time after the commencing of a run on the spinning frame and automatically, and the rate of change can be controlled by an arrangement as illustrated in Figure 18.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims,

We claim:

1. In a method of operating a spinning frame of the nature described and having a spindle, the steps of initiating the rotation of the spindle at the beginning of the run at a predetermined speed, continuously increasing the speed of the spindle at a variable rate throughout the run, and halting the increasing of the speed of the spindle at a predetermined upper limit at the end of the run.

2. In a method of operating a spinning frame as claimed in claim 1 with the rate of increase being increased.

3. In a method of operating a spinning frame as claimed in claim 1 with the rate of increase being decreased.

4. The method of operating a spinning frame as claimed in claim 1 with the additional step of continuing the run at the upper speed limit and completing the run at that speed without lowering the speed of the spindle to the initial spindle speed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,036 Holmes Oct. 7, 1913 1,965,163 Truslow July 3, 1934 1,985,851 Brooks Dec. 25, 1934 2,096,339 Reeves Oct. 19, 1937 2,109,247 Clay Feb. 22, 1938 2,161,054 Iepson June 6, 1939 2,164,306 Bohringer et al. July 4, 1939 2,343,648 Eaton Mar. 7, 1944 2,507,904 Heller et al May 16, 1950 2,585,823 Norcross Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,349 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1937 652,238 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1951 

